Long-lived Th2 clones specific for seasonal and perennial allergens can be detected in blood and skin by their TCR-hypervariable regions.
We investigated the longevity of allergen-specific Th cells derived from patients suffering from either allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis. T cell clones (TCC) specific for seasonal and perennial allergens were raised. To determine whether these TCC were long-lived in vivo, PBMC and allergen-specific polyclonal T cell lines, collected and established inside a period of up to 4 years, were screened for the TCC of interest. For this purpose, a T cell tracing protocol was established in which oligonucleotides specific for the TCR beta-chain hypervariable junctional region were used as tools to identify each particular TCC. Seven pollen-specific TCC and two house dust mite-specific TCC, with a Th2-like cytokine production pattern in vitro, were demonstrated to be long-lived memory T cells in vivo. Specificity of the tracing protocol was ascertained by TCR sequence analysis. We conclude that allergen-specific TCC can persist for years, evidence for which can be monitored in blood, but also in the target organ of the allergic disorder. The data indicate that in vitro-characterized, allergen-specific, long-lived TCC may well reflect a repertoire of T lymphocytes of pathogenetic importance in vivo.
Bohle
B
B
Department of General and Experimental Pathology, University of Vienna, Austria.
Schwihla
H
H
Hu
H Z
HZ
Friedl-Hajek
R
R
Sowka
S
S
Ferreira
F
F
Breiteneder
H
H
Bruijnzeel-Koomen
C A
CA
de Weger
R A
RA
Mudde
G C
GC
Ebner
C
C
Van Reijsen
F C
FC
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000276:immunology; D002999:Clone Cells; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D000939:Epitopes; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell